Meet the 2010 MLS All-Star First XI

A quick look at the the cream of the league's current crop

July 13, 2010

MLSsoccer.com

The 2010 MLS All-Star First XI features those players who captured the most combined votes from media, fans, fellow players, and coaches and GMs. All-Star head coach Bruce Arena will make a further 10 selections, and league commissioner Don Garber will round out the roster with two more picks. Arena will then select his starting XI, which is slated to face Manchester United on July 28, from that full 23-man roster.

GK Donovan Ricketts, Los Angeles Galaxy: The big Jamaican leads the league's stingiest defense, having conceded just seven goals through Week 15. The 33-year-old joined LA last season following a successful stint at England's Bradford City.

DF Omar Gonzalez, Los Angeles Galaxy: The 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year has missed just one game since making his professional debut. A commanding center back, 21-year-old Gonzalez has found himself in the U.S. national team picture.

DF Jamison Olave, Real Salt Lake: Dominating in size and stature, the Colombian center back can score goals, too. The 29-year-old earned RSL's Defender of the Year honor in 2009 after helping his team to the league championship.

DF Chad Marshall, Columbus Crew: The 25-year-old is the only member of this year's MLS All-Star First XI back line to have previously earned an All-Star nod. Marshall was named the MLS Defender of the Year in the past two campaigns.

MF Dwayne De Rosario, Toronto FC: This is the Canadian international's fifth-straight All-Star selection. DeRo leads TFC in scoring through Week 15, having netted eight times as the Reds seek their first appearance in the MLS postseason.

MF Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus Crew: With five goals and four assists heading into Week 16, Schelotto is on pace for another MVP season. A standout at Argentina's Boca Juniors, the 37-year-old is one of the league's most decorated players.

MF Kyle Beckerman, Real Salt Lake: The quintessential team captain, Beckerman's tough, no-nonsense commitment in the center of the park has Real Salt Lake looking like favorites to repeat their championship-winning season of 2009.

MF Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake: The 30-year-old Argentine playmaker is always a threat in the final third, and he has tallied six assists and four goals through Week 15 to prove it. This is Morales' second straight MLS All-Star selection.

MF Marco Pappa, Chicago Fire: The 22-year-old Guatemalan is enjoying a breakout season with the Fire, and is seemingly a regular nominee for Goal of the Week. His creativity has earned him a team-high six goals and four assists.

FW Edson Buddle, Los Angeles Galaxy: Buddle began 2010 on a tear, scoring seven times in his first four games. Having returned from South Africa, it looks as though he'll continue his goalscoring prowess—he now leads the league with 10 goals.

FW Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy: What more can be said about arguably the nation's all-time greatest player? It's been quite a year for Donovan, who is a headliner at LA after a successful loan stint at Everton and an unbelievable World Cup campaign.